EP1079777B1 - Protecteur d'oreille - Google Patents

Protecteur d'oreille Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1079777B1
EP1079777B1 EP00917934A EP00917934A EP1079777B1 EP 1079777 B1 EP1079777 B1 EP 1079777B1 EP 00917934 A EP00917934 A EP 00917934A EP 00917934 A EP00917934 A EP 00917934A EP 1079777 B1 EP1079777 B1 EP 1079777B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
foam
stem
protective device
hearing protective
tip
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00917934A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1079777A1 (fr
Inventor
Robert N. Falco
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cabot Safety Intermediate LLC
Original Assignee
Cabot Safety Intermediate LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cabot Safety Intermediate LLC filed Critical Cabot Safety Intermediate LLC
Publication of EP1079777A1 publication Critical patent/EP1079777A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1079777B1 publication Critical patent/EP1079777B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F11/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
    • A61F11/06—Protective devices for the ears
    • A61F11/08—Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C44/00—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles
    • B29C44/02—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
    • B29C44/12—Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements
    • B29C44/1214—Anchoring by foaming into a preformed part, e.g. by penetrating through holes

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to acoustical hearing devices. More particularly, this invention relates to hearing protective devices comprising a foam and at least one mechanically bonded component during the manufacturing process.
  • hearing protection and noise attenuating devices are well known, and various types of devices are available for this purpose. Such devices include, but are not limited to, earmuffs, semi-aural devices, and earplugs. Foam components are well-known for use with these devices, providing both sound attenuation and enhanced comfort for the wearer.
  • Earplugs are generally preferred for continuous use over longer periods of time.
  • Slow recovery foam earplugs such as those disclosed in U.S. Reissue No. 29,487 are not only comfortable, but have also been shown to deliver high in-field noise protection at all frequencies.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,203,352 also discloses a hearing protective earplug comprising a polymeric foam.
  • the sound-attenuating (acoustical) component has been made both of flexible, rubber-like materials, and of foam.
  • the rubber-like materials are advantageous in allowing direct insertion into the wearer's ear, but are sometimes uncomfortable over long periods of use.
  • Foam earplugs and pods provide enhanced comfort, but require "rolling-down” before insertion.
  • manufacture of foam components requires the presence of a vent in the mold for entrapped gases to escape, which often results in foam overflowing the vent (“flash"). This flash is wasteful, and must be cleaned off the molds after each molding. Cleaning the molds can be a long, tedious procedure which adds significantly to manufacturing time.
  • a foam earplug or pod with a stem insert can provide both the ease of insertion of rubber-like earplugs, with the comfort of foam earplugs and pods.
  • a number of patents have been directed to earplugs having tips or flanges with a relatively stiff stem used to insert and remove the earplug.
  • One especially useful earplug, shown in FIGURE 1, is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,188,123.
  • This earplug 2 comprises a circular or ovoid resilient polymeric foam body 4 having a rounded nose end 6.
  • An elongate stem 8 is axially embedded in main body element 4 and extends rearwardly and axially therefrom. The earplug may be used in a push-in or roll-down insertion mode.
  • this prior art earplug requires an additional manufacturing step to secure the stem in the foam body, i.e., a gluing step. Furthermore, the bond is sometimes not as permanent as is desirable. In addition, if the stem is too hard it may be considered unsafe to the user, the general concern being that potential injury could result should the hearing protector become impacted. On the other hand, if the stem is too soft, it tends to buckle upon insertion, limiting the fit of the, earplug and reducing the potential usefulness of the stem.
  • this prior art earplug or semi-aural device pod 10 comprises a foam 12 mechanically bonded to a porous component 14 having a handle portion 16 and an embedded portion 18 with a tip 20.
  • embedded portion refers here to that part of the porous insert which is surrounded by, and mechanically bonded to, the foam component.
  • the earplug may be of any configuration, such as circular or ovoid, with the preferred configuration having a flange 13.
  • porous component 14 is placed in a mold and a foam is formed within the mold such that foam penetrates the embedded portion 18 of porous component 14, thereby forming a mechanical bond between the foam and the porous component.
  • the body part includes a number of circumferential grooves essentially increasing the surface area of the body part available for enhanced bonding with the sealing part 43.
  • the idea is that the larger the contact area between the two bonding surfaces, the stronger the resulting bond.
  • increasing the surface area in this way can enlarge and/or stiffen the stem thus making the stem less comfortable when worn in the ear.
  • an earplug or semi-aural device comprises a foam component mechanically bonded to an insert (stem) having a handle portion and a tip portion comprising an embedded portion.
  • embedded portion refers here to that part of the insert which is surrounded by, and mechanically bonded to, the foam component.
  • ear plug stem and foam component comprises a foam element and at least one stem component mechanically bonded to the foam during manufacture by penetration of at least one stem component by the foam.
  • ear plug 2 comprises a circular or ovoid resilient polymeric foam body 4 housing a rounded nose 6.
  • An elongated stem 8 is axially embedded in main body element 4 and extends rearwardly and axially therefrom.
  • the ear plug may be used in a push-in or roll down insertion mode. While suitable for certain purposes, this prior art ear plug requires an additional manufacturing step to secure the stem in the foam body, i.e., a gluing step. Furthermore, the bond is sometimes not as permanent as is desirable.
  • This prior art earplug or semi-aural device 10 comprises a foam 12 mechanically bonded to a porous component 14 having a handle portion 16 and an embedded portion 18 with a tip 20.
  • embedded portion refers here to that part of the porous insert which is surrounded by, and mechanically bonded to, the foam component.
  • the earplug may be of any configuration, such as circular or ovoid, with the preferred configuration having a flange 13.
  • porous component 14 is placed in a mold and a foam is formed within the mold such that foam penetrates the embedded portion 18 of porous component 14, thereby forming a mechanical bond between the foam and the porous component.
  • Ear plug stem and foam device 40 comprises a stem 42 at a first end 41 and a foam body 44 at a second end 43.
  • FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of stem 42 in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.
  • Stem 42 comprises an elongated member extending from first end 41 of device 40 to an opposing second end 45.
  • stem handle 42 has a length of approximately an inch and a height of approximately 5.59 mm (.220 inches) when viewed in side elevation (see FIGURE 5).
  • Stem 42 tapers slightly toward second end 45 which is intended to be embedded in foam body 44.
  • the tapered portion of stem 42 is generally shown at 49.
  • Intermediate first end 41 and second end 45 is a stop shoulder 48 which is designed to stop the flow of foam 44 at stop shoulder 48 during the manufacturing process when foam 44 is injected around stem 42 to form device 40. This feature prevents wastage of foam 44 material and keeps the mold clear of flashing and the wasted time of cleaning out between cycles.
  • Proximate stop shoulder 48 is a circumferential groove 50 which is intended to hold a retaining circle of foam adjacent stop shoulder 48.
  • Tapered portion 49 of stem 42 leading to second end 45 preferably terminates in an end member (tip portion) 52 which optionally has a width greater than tapered portion 49 of stem 42.
  • tip 52 is spherical in shape and has a diameter of 4.06 mm (160 inches). It being understood that the geometric shape of tip 52 is not critical to the present invention and tip 52 may be formed of other suitable shapes which can be substituted for the sphere for tip 52.
  • Spherical shaped tip 52 includes an opening 54 therethrough which is centrally located in spherical tip 52. In one exemplary embodiment, opening 54 has a width of about 1.57 mm (.062 inches).
  • opening 54 may have any other suitable widths so long as it is not too small to permit foam body'44 from flowing therethrough during manufacture of device 40. Opening 54 is what provides the main mechanical anchor for foam body 44. Furthermore, opening 54 may be of any other shape such as square or octagonal. As best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, stem 42 preferably includes grooves 56 formed in the tapered portion 49 of stem 42 intermediate circumferential groove 50 and tip 52. Grooves 56 can be of any desired shape and dimensions to provide additional retention surfaces for foam 44 when foam 44 is injected around stem 42.
  • the ability of device 40 to have a greater amount of foam increases the comfort for the wearer of the ear plug. Narrowing the diameter of the cross-section of the tip 52 of the embedded portion had not been possible previously (see FIGURE 1) due to the fact that the stem handle was required to be glued to the foam. An adequate bond could only be formed by gluing a larger area of the stem 42 to the foam body 44 and the adhesive itself increases the effective stem cross-section.
  • the present invention allows formation of a stronger mechanical bond, even when using reduced stem surface area.
  • Stem 42 includes a stem handle portion 58 which comprises a rectangular shaped element extending from shoulder 48 in a direction away from spherical tip 52.
  • Stem handle portion 58 has a planar shaped area 60 shown in phantom in FIGURE 5 which can be advantageously utilized to display any suitable logo.
  • Stem handle portion 58 provides an area for the user to easily grip to insert and remove ear plug device 40 from a respective ear.
  • FIGURE 6 shows an aperture 62 which in one exemplary embodiment is preferably 1.57 mm (.062) in diameter and 12.6 mm (.496 inches) deep which can hold a cord or other suitable device such as a stretchable brand (not shown)to hold two devices 40 together as a pair for retention in a person's ears.
  • Aperture 62 is formed at first end 41 and is centrally located in stem handle 42. This cord or other suitable device is joined to the devices 40 by known means and the above-recited dimensions are recited for illustration only.
  • Stem 42 is fabricated by known methods and may be formed of any suitable material.
  • stem 42 comprises a non-porous material.
  • Suitable materials for the stem 42 include, but are not limited to, those known in the art such as polyalkanes, polyvinylcarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyacrylates, fluoroelastomers, copolymers or multipolymers of the above, ethylene vinyl acetate, and thermoplastic elastomers, including various types of linear, diblock, triblock, and radial polymers of materials such as styrene-butadiene, isoprene-styrene, styrene-ethylene propylene and the like, and blends of the aforementioned with other materials, including metal powders.
  • Preferred materials include polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and thermoplastic elastomers, such as KRATON thermoplastic rubbers.
  • Suitable foams for use with the present invention include those self-rising foams suitable for use with foam ear plugs or foam components for hearing protective devices, such as earmuffs. Such foams include soft, pliable self-rising foams with instant recovery. Other foams are self-rising polyurethane or acrylic blend foams with slow recovery.
  • One suitable foam is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,203,352.
  • the ear plug described therein is comprised of a part slow recovery polymer and a part faster recovery polymer.
  • Another suitable foam is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,420,381.
  • the plastic component comprising stem 42 is placed into the cavity of an ear plug mold 80.
  • Foam or foamable mixture is introduced into mold 80 to fill in the space between shoulder 48 and the rest of the mold cavity 64 (see FIGURE 8), thus surrounding tapered second end 45 and an outside surface of spherical shaped tip 52 as well as penetrating through opening 54, thereby forming a mechanical bond between the stem handle tapered second end 45 and the finished foam body 44.
  • the foam is introduced and expands by known means and methods. This method is particularly advantageous in that it provides a safe, useful earplug or semi-aural pod easily and efficiently, without the necessity of an additiotial bonding step.
  • spherical shaped tip 52 includes a plurality of openings 54 which extend through the body of spherical shaped tip 52 and provide multiple openings for the foam to penetrate during the molding process to create mechanical bonding between the foam body 44 and stem 42.
  • the plurality of openings 54 completely extend through the body of spherical shaped tip 52.

Claims (13)

  1. Dispositif de protection auditive, comportant :
    une mousse (44) ;
    une tige (42) initialement séparée de la mousse (44), la tige comportant un corps ayant une tête à une première extrémité (45) et étant liée à la mousse,
    caractérisé en ce que la tête comporte au moins une ouverture (54) s'étendant à travers le corps de tige, la mousse s'étendant à travers la au moins une ouverture pour relier mécaniquement la tige (42) et la mousse (44).
  2. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le dispositif de protection auditive est un bouchon d'oreille en mousse acoustique ou une coque semi-auditive.
  3. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la tige (42) comporte une partie de manche de tige (58) opposée à la tête, la tête comportant une partie enrobée de la tige.
  4. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 1 ou 2, de lequel la tige comporte un corps allongé ayant une partie de manche de tige (58) à une seconde extrémité (41) opposée à la première extrémité (45) et le corps de tige s'effile légèrement vers la première extrémité.
  5. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 4, dans lequel la tête a une largeur supérieure à une largeur de la partie effilée (48) de la tige (42).
  6. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la tête comporte un élément d'extrémité de forme sphérique.
  7. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 4, comportant en outre un épaulement de butée (48) formé dans le corps de tige entre les première et seconde extrémités (41, 43, 45).
  8. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le corps de tige comporte une gorge circonférentielle (50) entre les première et seconde extrémités (41, 43, 45) pour recevoir la mousse (44) de manière annulaire pour étendre la liaison mécanique entre la mousse et la tige (42).
  9. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la tige est formée d'un matériau non poreux.
  10. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la tige (42) comporte une pluralité d'ouvertures (54) formées dans la tête à la première extrémité (45), la pluralité d'ouvertures permettant à la mousse de s'étendre à travers celles-ci pour lier mécaniquement le corps de tige et la mousse.
  11. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le corps de tige comporte au moins une gorge longitudinale (56) formée dans celui-ci, la gorge longitudinale étant destinée à recevoir la mousse pour retenir davantage mécaniquement la mousse sur le corps de tige.
  12. Dispositif de protection auditive selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la mousse est sélectionnée dans le groupe constitué de polyuréthanne, acrylique, compositions acryliques, ou mélanges de ceux-ci.
  13. Procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif de protection auditive comportant au moins un composant en mousse et au moins un composant non poreux initialement séparé de la mousse, comportant les étapes suivantes :
    on place le composant non poreux dans un moule ;
    on introduit une mousse ou un mélange moussant dans le moule ; et
    on fait gonfler la mousse, en liant ainsi le matériau non poreux et la mousse,
    caractérisé en ce que
    on fait gonfler la mousse et s'étendre à travers au moins une ouverture (54) dans le composant non poreux, l'ouverture s'étendant à travers le composant non poreux,
    formant ainsi une liaison mécanique entre le composant non poreux et la mousse.
EP00917934A 1999-03-16 2000-03-14 Protecteur d'oreille Expired - Lifetime EP1079777B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12459399P 1999-03-16 1999-03-16
US124593P 1999-03-16
PCT/US2000/006672 WO2000054712A1 (fr) 1999-03-16 2000-03-14 Protecteur d'oreille

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1079777A1 EP1079777A1 (fr) 2001-03-07
EP1079777B1 true EP1079777B1 (fr) 2006-01-04

Family

ID=22415769

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00917934A Expired - Lifetime EP1079777B1 (fr) 1999-03-16 2000-03-14 Protecteur d'oreille

Country Status (14)

Country Link
US (1) US6241042B1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1079777B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2002538890A (fr)
AT (1) ATE314833T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU771832B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR0006003A (fr)
CA (1) CA2332236A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60025340T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2255997T3 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA00011243A (fr)
NO (1) NO20005779L (fr)
NZ (1) NZ508104A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000054712A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA200006414B (fr)

Families Citing this family (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020124851A1 (en) * 2000-11-28 2002-09-12 Richard Knauer Hearing protective device and method of making same
US20040045558A1 (en) * 2002-09-06 2004-03-11 Duncan Taylor Earplug and method of manufacturing an earplug
US7464786B2 (en) * 2004-06-11 2008-12-16 Cabot Safety Intermediate Corporation High sound attenuating hearing protection device
US7268669B2 (en) * 2004-11-05 2007-09-11 Mcevoy Michael Personal sensory reduction system, and method
JP2009523060A (ja) 2006-01-10 2009-06-18 プレジデント アンド フェローズ オブ ハーバード カレッジ 衝撃ノイズの有害性かつ／または、爆風の超過圧力への被ばくのためのナノ耳科保護具
US20080011308A1 (en) * 2006-07-12 2008-01-17 Thomas Walter Fleming Reverse fitting earplug
US7506720B1 (en) * 2006-07-21 2009-03-24 Hicks Tammera D Animal ear protection apparatus
US8281514B2 (en) * 2006-09-18 2012-10-09 Tom Fleming Organic insect extermination lamp
US7984716B2 (en) * 2007-06-22 2011-07-26 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc. Self-conforming sound attenuation earplug
DE102007042740A1 (de) * 2007-09-07 2009-03-12 Uvex Arbeitsschutz Gmbh Gehörschutzstöpsel
US20090277462A1 (en) * 2008-05-09 2009-11-12 3M Innovative Properties Company Foam earplug in deformable sheath
US8113207B2 (en) * 2008-08-22 2012-02-14 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Self-conforming sound attenuation earplug
AU2010207756B2 (en) * 2009-06-03 2012-08-30 Sperian Hearing Protection, Llc Non-roll foam eartip
US8679607B2 (en) 2012-07-12 2014-03-25 3M Innovative Properties Company Foamable article
US9737439B2 (en) 2012-07-12 2017-08-22 3M Innovative Properties Company Push-in earplug
US8968613B2 (en) 2012-07-12 2015-03-03 3M Innovative Properties Company Method of making an earplug
CN104473719A (zh) * 2014-12-08 2015-04-01 上海斐讯数据通信技术有限公司 一种耳塞
WO2018118647A1 (fr) 2016-12-21 2018-06-28 3M Innovative Properties Company Bouchon d'oreille à tige comprenant un manchon
USD895901S1 (en) * 2017-09-01 2020-09-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Hearing protector
US20200276054A1 (en) 2018-08-21 2020-09-03 Howard S. Leight Compressible Fit Earplug With Planar Insert

Family Cites Families (14)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3811437A (en) 1971-10-26 1974-05-21 Cabot Corp Earplugs
DE3536793A1 (de) * 1985-10-16 1987-04-23 Hartig Guenter Gehoerschutzstoepsel
US5002151A (en) * 1986-12-05 1991-03-26 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Ear piece having disposable, compressible polymeric foam sleeve
US5188123A (en) 1990-08-20 1993-02-23 Cabot Safety Corporation Hearing protective earplug having alternative modes of insertion
US5071331A (en) 1990-08-27 1991-12-10 Cabot Safety Corporation Mold for foam products
US5203352A (en) 1990-10-16 1993-04-20 Cabot Safety Corporation Polymeric foam earplug
US5792998A (en) * 1993-04-19 1998-08-11 Cabot Safety Intermediate Corporation Acoustical hearing protective devices utilizing dynamically stiff foam and methods of producing same
US5420381A (en) 1993-04-19 1995-05-30 Cabot Safety Corporation Acoustical earmuff
US5449865A (en) * 1994-01-28 1995-09-12 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Ear tips having molded-in recesses for attachment to a stethoscope
USD375551S (en) * 1994-04-15 1996-11-12 Cabot Safety Intermediate Corporation Hearing protective earplug
US5799658A (en) 1996-08-15 1998-09-01 Cabot Safety Intermediate Corporation Hearing protective device comprising a foam and a porous component and method of manufacture thereof
AU728919B2 (en) * 1996-08-15 2001-01-18 Cabot Safety Intermediate Corporation A device having rotatable legs
SE513688C2 (sv) 1996-12-12 2000-10-23 Dalloz Safety Ab Öronpropp, förfarande för framställning av en integrerad öronpropp samt användning av flermaterial-formsprutning för åstadkommande av en dylik öronpropp
USD413379S (en) * 1998-05-08 1999-08-31 Howard Leight Industries Combined earplug and insertion stem

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR0006003A (pt) 2001-03-06
NZ508104A (en) 2002-09-27
AU3883100A (en) 2000-10-04
NO20005779L (no) 2001-01-16
DE60025340T2 (de) 2006-08-03
EP1079777A1 (fr) 2001-03-07
ZA200006414B (en) 2001-08-29
WO2000054712A9 (fr) 2002-01-31
CA2332236A1 (fr) 2000-09-21
US6241042B1 (en) 2001-06-05
JP2002538890A (ja) 2002-11-19
NO20005779D0 (no) 2000-11-15
WO2000054712A1 (fr) 2000-09-21
AU771832B2 (en) 2004-04-01
ES2255997T3 (es) 2006-07-16
MXPA00011243A (es) 2003-04-22
DE60025340D1 (de) 2006-03-30
ATE314833T1 (de) 2006-02-15

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